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The 10 Best Design Books I Own
My Pride and Joy
Remember that viral video from a while back with Tai Lopez going, "Here in my garage, just bought this new Lamborghini here. It’s fun to drive up in the Hollywood Hills. But you know what I like a lot more materialistic things? Knowledge! in fact, I’m a lot more proud of the seven new bookshelves that I had to get installed to hold 2000 new books that I bought." Pretty absurd, right? I mean it went viral for a reason. But the guy has a point, maybe just poorly executed. I am genuinely so proud of my book collection, and I can't stress enough the value of having a library of books to reference whenever I am feeling uninspired or stuck on a project. It's hard to pick favorites, but for the sake of this article I will try.
The Carhartt WIP Archives
This book is amazing for many reasons, primarily it's stunning visuals. But what impresses me the most about this book is it's ability to carry a strong narrative even while being a coffee table style book that is photography forward. The book includes internal memos within the Carhartt company about creating the WIP division, which is such a cool way to glean insight on their inspiration, strategies, and road blocks at the time.
Gary Simmons: Public Enemy
Gary Simmons has some really fascinating work, archived in this book. His art is meant to make strong social commentaries, doing so in a very intentional and thought provoking way. I had the privilege of viewing his gallery at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, allowing an entirely new perspective on his works. My favorite of his works are his handmade sculptural speaker sets.
Morphosis: Modeled Works
by Thom Mayne (2023)
This archival book encapsulating 50 years of Thom Mayne's architectural work is incredible. Thom Mayne pushes the boundaries of form and redefines what was previously thought to be possible. He states that his work is, "rooted in rigorous research and innovation," (Thom Mayne), and getting an insight into that process is fascinating.
Home Futures: Living in Yesterday's Tomorrow
by Justin McGuirk, Florian Idenburg, Edwin Heathcote (2019)
Exploring what radical ideas existed in the 20th century about what homes would look like in the future, this book is almost comedic. The absurdity of some of the predictions for future homes is amusing, but also sheds light on the way that our homes adapt to our ever changing lifestyles.
Green Architecture
This book explores what it means to create environmentally friendly architecture in the modern era. Featuring some of the most prominent architects of the last century, Green Architecture defines an architect's responsibility to create in harmony with our natural environment.
The New Luxury
by gestalten and Highsnobiety (2019)
This book dives into the ways in which contemporary fashion is being forced to reshape it's definition of luxury as a result of societal shifts. The premise is fascinating, and an essential read for me as a clothing brand owner.
Cy Twombly: Making Past Present
by Christine Kondoleon, Kate Nesin, Cy Twombly (2020)
Cy Twombly is one of my favorite artists, and I had the pleasure of viewing his work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Cy Twombly's works aren't for everyone, and can feel like a child scribbling at times. But I enjoy his playful nature, and this book dives deeply into his process, helping to justify the 8 figure price tag on many of his pieces.
Palette Mini Series
by Victionary (2020)
The Palette Mini Series is a fun 10 part series of small archival books diving into the variety of ways which certain color palettes can be applied. I own the black & white, transparent, and nature palette books, but the series also includes palettes such as monotone and nude.
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Edge of Order
by Daniel Libeskind (2018)
Flipping through Edge of Order is simply a fun experience. Although the book tells a clear story of the architectural work of Daniel Libeskind, it utilizes graphic design to create a clear visual identity that supports the architectural themes and theories being examined.
Contemporary Japanese Posters
What I love about this book is that it has so many niche poster designs that you would never find on your own. The author amazingly curates a collection of works that tell a clear narrative about the cultural influences of Japanese graphic design.
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© 2035 CARSON ALFORD
My Philosophy
I strive to bring a sense of humanity into an increasingly technological world by empathizing with product users.
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